How Large Is Your HD DVD Collection

Before you should even think about selling your HD DVD player and HD DVD movies, you need to calm down, take a few breaths, count to ten, and count how many HD DVD titles you have. Have more than 25 titles? Well, I suggest you stay put. If you have less than 25 HD DVD titles, then you probably could sell your entire HD DVD hardware and software, and break even. With fewer than 25 titles, you probably weren't heavily invested in HD DVD, and when you think about it, weren't too invested in HD DVD altogether. This is fine. You can still keep your existing collection by all means, however, you will not have as much of an investment as those who have 50 or more HD DVD titles.

Combo HD Players A Reality

Your HD DVDs are not goint to self-destruct when a movie studio announces they are choosing a different format. Far from. Your HD DVDs will work as they always have, and will give you years of exciting and amazing HD content. And since we already have Blu-ray and HD DVD combo players being announced late last year and at CES 2008, there shouldn't be a reason to sell your HD DVD titles for Blu-ray titles. LG and Samsung are the primary manufacturers offering "hybrid" or "combo" players, but Toshiba is expected to offer a Blu-ray and HD DVD player of their own, and probably a multiple line-up of such players. Why Toshiba wouldn't support HD DVD wouldn't be wise, and I suspect they will offer HD DVD compatibility with their future HD players.

HD DVD Deals Coming To A Store Near You

"...since you have an HD DVD collection, you STILL have a choice. And one hell of a bargain..."

Ok, now this is the best part. HD DVDs will need to leave the warehouses and retail shelves eventually, because of all the publicity of "Blu-ray winning". For new HD adopters, HD DVD just isn't a choice now. It's Blu-ray...or the highway. But since you have an HD DVD collection, you STILL have a choice. And one hell of a bargain. While DigitalDingus cannot predict the exact discounts of HD DVDs, the discounts are certain to happen and at a price which will be impossible to ignore. If you have 50 HD DVDs, don't sell. Buy. Get those HD DVDs you could have never afforded in the first place. The more HD DVDs you buy now, the less Blu-ray titles you'll need to buy.

Just when the discounts will occur is not known exactly, however, expect some dramatic price decreases (probably beginning around Spring 2008) soon. 2008 is going to be the year for HD DVD discounts. Retailers who stock HD DVDs, and online eTailers are not going to slash prices immediately. DigitalDingus expects a slow "blood-letting" of HD DVD titles, so make sure you REALLY need an HD DVD title before you buy it. Amazon's BOGO (Buy-One-Get-One) sales have been quite successful and I hope they will start including Warner Brothers titles galore.

Remain Calm.

"We might see Paramount and Universal going neutral, thereby supporting HD DVD owners and future Blu-ray owners..."

If any advice you get from this article, it is to remain calm. Don't jump ship so fast. Wait until the ship inevitably reaches the shores...and then walk off in a respectable manner. We know HD DVD at minimum, has suffered some serious blows. We know Blu-ray, whether or not the stats are completely true, and whether or not we agree with them, is gaining the lead. When future movie studios such as Paramount and Universal will announce Blu-ray support is not known, and at this point they deny any rumors of supporting Blu-ray. We might see Paramount and Universal going neutral, thereby supporting HD DVD owners and future Blu-ray owners. This would be a lot more mature, and not the firesale approach WB had with its consumer base.

What Is DigitalDingus Going To Do...

I have received a few emails asking just what I am going to do personally. So, I'll say it here to save you some email sending:

I'm not sellin' a damn thing.

DigitalDingus will also still be posting HD DVD reviews along with regulard DVD reviews. There are hundreds of thousands of HD DVD owners who own HD DVDs and it's only fair we keep the information alive for these movies, as they will still be a part of our HD movie collections. Having websites which have reviewed HD DVDs will be crucial for those who will be buying used HD DVDs in the future. Some HD DVDs won't be worth buying. Most will. As an HD DVD owner, you will need the information to best use your collecting. DigitalDingus will provide as many HD DVD reviews as possible.